Page 5 of Nix and Tell

“Marla does like a party.”

“And you wouldn’t have to be part of the ritual–I would never ask anyone to witness something they feel uncomfortablearound–but we could have a mini menu and send people across for refreshments. It could be good business.”

“That it would,” said Kit. “And I’m not uncomfortable around you, petal. You’re just fine; it’s arsehole manipulators that I… Yeah.” She shakes her head as if clearing her thoughts, and I think of her estranged father and brother, funeral directors who I avoid if I can. “I’ll pull together a menu for you guys; one cocktail, one mocktail and maybe a speciality ale?”

“Perfect!” says Violet, and she leans to the side, to have a look at the gins on the shelf behind Kit, almost toppling off the stool as she does so.

I move ever so slightly to the left, so that she can lean on me, and her answering smile is worth it all.

“Gin and lemonade please, barkeep!” she sings out. “Because I could never be sweet enough.”

4

Violet

I’ve never been much of a drinker. My dad was a little too fond of his beer, so I’ve never really overindulged myself, but I do enjoy a suitably sweet concoction every now and then. Something fruity, which’ll make me smile and feel as if spring is right around the corner.

Which I suppose it is.

Chlo doesn’t drink, but she sits with me anyway, sipping at a non-alcoholic beer, and insists on covering both our drinks. I try to protest, but she’s quicker with her card, making it to the contactless machine before I’ve even had the chance to get mine out of my bag.

I just have the one drink, which Kit makes as sugary as she knows I like, and then realise how very very tired I am.

Work was good today, a low hum of customers coming in and out consistently, and I’m only just now realising how much energy it’s sapped from me.

It’s easy for me to get distracted if I’m not careful–even at work–and so I make sure that I am ‘on’ all day. That way I don’tmiss anything, sales or otherwise. But it does mean that I use up a lot of my energy pretty damn fast. I’m about to say something to Chlo when I realise that she’s standing, holding my coat up for me to slip on.

“How did you…?”

She shrugs, not answering the question, but her consideration warms me. I’ve only been here a year, but somehow Chlo knows me better than I know myself.

“We’re off,” I call to Kit, as we exit the door. She shouts a goodbye after us, and then we’re in the cool night air, wind whipping at our cheeks.

I shiver, and pull my coat closer around me, hands shoved in pockets, and smile at Chlo. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She lives on this side of the river, in a tiny cottage near her parents’; I’m back over the bridge, in a small apartment above Spellbound.

“I’ll walk you home,” she says.

“It’s less than a five-minute walk,” I say, protesting. “I can see the shop from here.” I’m not lying; crystals twinkle in Spellbound’s windows, and I know that I’ll be home in an instant.

She just looks at me, and I roll my eyes.

“Fine, but I just want to point out that you’re being ridiculous. This is Wyrten. Nothing ever happens here.”

That’s not entirely true though, and I know it.

For all that Wyrten Bridge is idyllic, there’s a reason that there’s a funeral home in a place this small. More people drown in the river than I care to think about.

“You coming?” She’s stepped onto the bridge, and for a moment I see a shadow behind Chlo, as if there’s something or someone hovering over her, watching her. But when I try to look at it directly, it floats away.

I walk to join her, and tuck my hand into the crook of her elbow. We walk in companionable silence past the church, across the bridge, and finish up by my front door.

“Come in for a second?”

She pauses, even as she’s turning to go. “Come in?”

“Yeah, I’ve got something I want to give you.”

Chlo doesn’t argue, merely ducks her head as she walks into the shop. Just the fairy lights are on, and it makes it feel even more magical than usual; the room lit by a soft glow.

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